Office of the Historian

Mr. Combs to Mr. Hay.

Legation of the United States,
Guatemala and Honduras,
Guatemala, April 24, 1903.
No. 52.]

Sir: I have the honor to submit the following cases in which I have reason to believe outrages have been perpetrated upon Chinese:

The first instance was reported as follows: On Friday evening, the 17th instant, as Feliz Sing, a reputable Chinese, left his boarding house, in one of the poorer districts of the city, he was accosted by two policemen with the request for some money to buy liquor and replied that he had no money on him, at the same time endeavoring to return to the house which he had left, whereupon the policemen grabbed hold of him and searched him, finding a pocketbook containing $300 currency, which they took while abusing the Chinese with their clubs. Sing raised an outcry which brought many of his countrymen as well as natives to the street, and the policemen, seeing themselves watched, took Sing to the station and had him locked up [Page 574] on charge of disturbing the peace, the sergeant in charge of the station refusing to search the policemen when they arrived with Sing, thus giving them a chance to dispose of the money taken. The Chinese was released the next day, when he came to complain at this legation.

I reported this case in person to the minister of foreign affairs of Guatemala, who promised to investigate.

The second case I reported by letter to Señor Barrios, copy of which is inclosed.

I have, etc.,

Leslie Combs.
[Inclosure.]

Mr. Combs to Mr. Barrios.

Legation of the United States, Guatemala and Honduras,
Guatemala, April 20, 1903.

Sir: I regret to be obliged to call the attention of your excellency to another alleged robbery of a Chinese, Salvador Chong Woeung, by a policeman named Federico Pineda Barrios.

Last night a Chinese, a cigar maker residing at No. 8, 15 Calle Oriente, declares he was paid a bill amounting to $490 by Quong of No. 1, 16 Calle Oriente, the payment being made about 10 o’clock at night.

As said Salvador Chong Woeung was going to his house but a short distance away he was stopped by Policeman Federico Pineda Barrios under pretext to search for concealed weapons, the policeman taking the $490 and then releasing him. He, Salvador Chong Woeung, went immediately and reported the theft to the sergeant in charge of station No. 1, Federico Marroquin, who took no steps to investigate immediately when the policeman might be found with the money still on him, but giving him every chance to dispose of the plunder, told the Chinese to call at 9 o’clock this morning, and then told him to come back at 12 o’clock, when he was confronted by the policeman who denied the charge.

I submit this matter to your excellency’s consideration and investigation without comment.

Embracing this opportunity to renew, etc.,

Leslie Combs.